Las Cruces >> To make up for her lack of skill in drawing or painting, Las Crucen Susan Rockstraw, 26, turned to creating art through the lens of a camera instead.

"I wasn't good at doing traditional art, but I really wanted to make it," Rockstraw said. "So, I picked up a camera and started taking pictures and after that, I thought, 'I guess I could try different ways of working with a camera.' "

Six years later, Rockstraw's photos have evolved into the flawless fashion and beauty images she creates today, and the art of photography has become her passion and focus in life.

Rockstraw graduated from New Mexico State University in 2013 with bachelor's degrees in graphic design and photography. Her images mimic those that you would see in high end fashion magazines, featuring models in full makeup and extravagant outfits. Her work has been featured in several online magazines, including the cover and a full spread in EMAGE Magazine, an international online magazine. She and her photo crew were also recognized by Dark Beauty Magazine for her colorful and mystical image of a model painted like a skeleton and more recently, for an up-close beauty shot of a woman with tattoos and piercings.

"I always get really excited when someone wants to put my work out there because that means they like it enough to want to include it in the magazine," Rockstraw said. "It's really an honor and just humbling to me that someone would really like my work that much."

Rockstraw said her images, shot at different locations throughout Las Cruces, would not have gained the attention they have if it weren't for the people who work and collaborate with her on each photo shoot. Her photography team usually includes a variety of different models, makeup artists, hair stylists and wardrobe and lighting assistants.

"The makeup has to be beautiful in order to make the model feel comfortable; she's got to feel nice," she said. "The lighting is really important; the posing and the location is kind of important. It adds to the final image, depending on what you're going for. It's really about everyone's hard work — everyone who is involved."

Rockstraw said for her, fashion photography is about getting that one good image that explains what the photographer and the models are trying to convey.

"Beautiful skin, beautiful model, beautiful clothing; everything just looks really great in the final image, and to me, that's more fun than taking pictures of kids or families or anything like that," she said. "I really like working towards having a really solid final image — even just one."

Rockstraw said she draws inspiration for her images by studying other photographers' work and experimenting with lighting to create different looks that a camera alone can't create.

"I really like using different lighting modifiers and then seeing the different looks you can get,' she said. "As far as my own style, I think it changes from time to time. I've noticed it evolving into something more personal, but for the most part, I'm just still really getting that down. I use a lot of color and I really like that, but I'm still experimenting."

Rockstraw said she can spend anywhere from four to nine hours working with a model during a shoot and about two to four hours fixing up an image using multiple editing programs.

"When I look at a photo, I try to keep it as it was in the camera, but only take out the things that are distracting," she said. "So if (the model) has blemishes, I'll take those out. If there's really harsh lighting, I might touch it up on the face to make her look like how she'd feel on her best day. It's really about keeping the detail and making the image look more professional."

DeeDee Harvey, 26, a longtime friend of Rockstraw and an occasional model, said she enjoys modeling for Rockstraw and that her approach is different from other photographers she worked with.

"She's a lot more hands-on and involved in actually producing the kind of look that she wants," Harvey said. "She'll give the models their freedom, but if she's not feeling what they're doing, she's not going to try to force it. She does what she needs to do to get what she wants out of the shoot."

Harvey said she is continuously surprised by the quality of Rockstraw's images and that she continues to improve as an artist.

"Her work is impeccable," she said. "I think she has a huge affinity for details and the most impressive part of her work comes from her retouching. She has a great eye that allows her to get great pictures to begin with, but I have never known anyone with the editing skills that she has. She is so tuned into the small details of every picture she produces."

Rockstraw, who recently quit her two jobs in child care and graphic design, has decided to pursue her dream of earning a living as a fashion and beauty photographer, working for a magazine, product line or clothing company. She will move to the Los Angeles area this month to live with her aunt while she gets settled.

"I've already joined Facebook groups and put my name out there," she said. "I've got a pretty good response from models and makeup artists and stylist artists who'd like to work with me. My plan is just to get out there and put myself out there as much as I can, so that I can eventually meet the right person, who will help me out, and then learn as I go. I'm trying to go for what I love."

Rockstraw, who has a 4-year-old son, Noah, said she feels it's important to pursue your dreams and that she wants to be able to show her son that he can do whatever he wants to in life. "If you're not happy, you've got to try and do something that you like, or else you'll probably regret it," she said. "I'm hopeful (about my future). I've gotten a lot of good responses for my images so far, so hopefully I can continue getting that kind of response."

Harvey said she also has high hopes for Rockstraw's work.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see her work in a major fashion magazine in the next few years," Harvey said. "She has the tenacity and raw talent and willingness to hone her skills, and those are the things that are necessary for her to succeed. The L.A. area is tough, but I think she'll fit in great there."

Rockstraw said she is open to anyone who would like to talk with her about her work or discuss photography techniques and problem solve. Those interested in contacting Rockstraw can visit Susan Rockstraw Photography on Facebook or email sue.rocks@icloud.com. To check out some of Rockstraw's latest images, visit sue-rocks.com.